BlackRock has started 2026 with significant transactions involving Bitcoin and Ethereum, as revealed by a recent report from Lookonchain. The investment firm has deposited 1,134 Bitcoin, worth approximately $101.4 million, and 7,255 Ethereum, valued at around $22.1 million, into the Binance exchange. This influx has raised concerns among market participants about potential bearish movements in the cryptocurrency sector.
Short-term traders are interpreting these actions as warning signals, fearing that these substantial deposits could lead to increased selling pressure across exchanges, not just Binance. In response to the recent movements, some long-term investors are adopting a more cautious stance, choosing to hold their assets and assess the market direction before making any decisions.
The implications of BlackRock’s asset deposits are significant, especially given the firm’s recent history of market behavior. The company is coming off a challenging end to 2025, during which it experienced its most considerable monthly outflows in the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) market, totaling over $2.1 billion. This downturn has sparked worries regarding the future of BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, a product it has historically been a leader in promoting.
In addition to the Binance transactions, BlackRock has also deposited an equivalent amount of 1,134 Bitcoin and 7,255 Ethereum into Coinbase Prime, signaling an ongoing trend of asset transitions. Throughout 2025, the firm transferred a total of 2,201 Bitcoin and 7,557 Ethereum to Coinbase, leading to growing speculation about its strategic intentions.
Despite these sell-offs, the prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum have shown resilience amid mixed signals from the market. Bitcoin has increased slightly to around $89,412.80, up 1.78% in the past 24 hours, recovering approximately $2,000 from its opening price of $87,710.06. Conversely, whale activity has reportedly decreased, which may suggest less selling pressure.
Ethereum’s price dynamics are also noteworthy, as the cryptocurrency recently breached the $3,000 resistance level. After reaching a low of $2,973.97, it peaked at $3,064.71, currently trading at approximately $3,048.61, reflecting a 2.25% increase. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum is enjoying a trading volume surge of 7.12%, amounting to around $14.98 billion.
As BlackRock continues its asset management strategies, market watchers are closely monitoring the effects of the firm’s recent deposits on overall market sentiment and price trajectories for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The strategic moves by such a significant player in the market underscore the uncertainty and volatility that characterizes the cryptocurrency space at the beginning of the year.
